Yarn package supporting bracket for use on a creel

ABSTRACT

A yarn package supporting bracket for use on a creel and attached to the creel for swiveling between a yarn feeding position and a yarn package loading position. The bracket has a magnet and the creel has a magnetically attractable portion with the magnet and magnetically attracted portion having flat surfaces that are in flush contact when the bracket is in yarn feeding position to releaseably fix by magnetic force the bracket and yarn package in the yarn feeding position.

FIELD ON THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a yarn package supporting bracket foruse on a creel, and, more particularly to a yarn package supportingbracket that is moveably mounted on a creel for positioning of a yarnpackage in a yarn feeding position and a yarn package loading position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Creels are commonly used in conjunction with various textile machinesfor feeding yarns from yarn packages mounted on the creel to adjacenttextile manufacturing equipment, such as looms, tufting machines andknitting machines. Typically, yarn packages are mounted on brackets atone side of a creel with one end of a yarn package mounted on thebracket and the opposite end facing inwardly of the creel toward aneyelet or guide through which yarn is drawn from the unsupported end ofthe yarn package to the textile machine. Because variations in thetension of yarn being fed from a yarn package will have a correspondingeffect on the uniformity, and therefore quality, of the fabric beingmanufactured on the textile machines to which the yarn is fed, it isimportant that the end of each package faces, as precisely as possible,in the direction in which the yarn is being fed so that the yarn will bedrawn off the package around the circumference of the package with aslittle variation in tension as possible.

It is also desirable that yarn packages be mounted on brackets on creelsfor movement from yarn feeding positions in which the packages faceinwardly on the creel to package loading positions in which the bracketsface outwardly for easy access in removing spent yarn package cores andloading full packages on the brackets for movement into yarn feedingposition.

An example of a yarn package supporting bracket is illustrated in U.S.Pat. No. 4,880,184 issued Nov. 14, 1989. The bracket of this patent ismounted on a vertical post of an arm of a creel for swiveling from ayarn feeding position to a package loading position. The bracket isreleaseably maintained in the yarn feeding position by a spring urgedlatch carried by a moveable portion of the bracket in a recess formed ina stationery portion that is fixed on the upstanding post by a setscrew. Movement of the bracket from the yarn feeding position to aposition for loading yarn packages is accomplished by disengaging thepin from the recess against the urging of a spring. Because there mustbe some tolerance in the complimentary dimension of the pin and recess,and because there can be imprecise positioning of the fixed portion bythe set screw, precise and truly fixed positioning of the yarn packagein the yarn feeding position is not uniformly accomplished, resulting inpotential variations in the tension of the yarn being fed and resultingvarious in uniformity in the fabric being produced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a yarn package supporting bracket thatprovides precise and consistent positioning of a yarn package on a creelin position for yarn feeding so that yarn will be fed from the yarnpackage uniformly without significant tension variations that resultfrom positioning variations when using prior art yarn package supports.

Briefly described, the yarn package supporting bracket of the presentinvention has an attaching portion that attaches the bracket to a creelfor movement of the bracket between a yarn feeding position and apackage loading position. One of the creel and bracket has amagnetically attractable portion and the other has a magnet thereonengagable with the magnetically attractable portion to releaseably fixthe bracket and a yarn package supported thereon in a yarn feedingposition. This magnetic fixing of the position of the bracket providesprecise and repeatable positioning that is not possible with prior artbrackets that require tolerances and other potential misalignmentfactors.

Preferably, in the preferred embodiment, the bracket is mounted on anupstanding post on the creel for swiveling between the yarn feedingposition and the package loading position. The magnetically attractableportion and the magnet have relatively flat surfaces disposed forsubstantially flushed contact therebetween when the bracket is in theyarn feeding position. A handle portion is provided on the bracket forengagement to move the bracket between the positions.

In the preferred embodiment, the upstanding post of the creel is on agenerally horizontally extending arm of the creel and the bracket has anattaching portion with a bore engageable on the post for swivelingattachment of the bracket on the creel arm for movement between thepositions. The aforesaid magnet is attached to a positioning portion ofthe bracket for engagement with a magnetically attractable portion ofthe creel arm, which portion has a relatively flat upstanding surfacedisposed for substantially flat contact by a flat surface of the magnetto fix the bracket in the yarn feeding position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear of a portion of a creel havingyarn package supporting brackets according to the preferred embodimentof the present invention mounted thereon and supporting yarn packages inyarn feeding position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational of a portion of the creel of FIG. 1 withthe yarn packages in yarn feeding position;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the creel of FIG. 1with packages in yarn feeding position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with one of the brackets andsupported yarn packages in the package loading position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear elevational view of a yarn package supportingbracket in the yarn feeding position without a yarn package mountedthereon;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the bracket in the yarn packageloading position;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of yarn package supporting bracketsof the preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted at oppositeends of a generally horizontally extending arm of the creel and with thebracket on the left in yarn feeding position without a yarn packagethereon and the bracket on the right in the yarn loading positionwithout a yarn package thereon;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the creel arm and yarn package supportingbrackets of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the creel arm and yarn packagesupporting brackets of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a yarn package supporting bracketof the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the bracket inyarn package loading position; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 10 with the yarnsupporting bracket in yarn feeding position;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIG. 1, yarn package supporting brackets 20 are shownmounted on a creel 22 with yarn packages 24 positioned in yarn feedingposition. The creel 22 is a frame having vertical and horizontal framemembers 26 and 28, respectively. FIG. 1 illustrates only a portion ofthe rear of a creel 22. Horizontally extending arms 30 are bolted to thevertical frame members 26 in selected mounting holes 32 formed invertical rows in the vertical frame members 26 by bolts 34.

In the yarn feeding position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the yarnpackages 24 have there outer faces 36 aimed toward guiding holes 38 inthe balloon stopping discs 40 mounted on the vertical frame members 42at the front of the creel 22. The vertical frame members 42 at the frontof the creel 22 are stabilized by horizontal frame members attachedthereto.

Yarn being fed from the yarn packages 24 travels through the holes 38 inthe discs 40 and then to and through guides 46, which are preferablyball tension devices. From these ball tension devices 46, the yarns areguided to whatever textile machine is using the yarns.

Each arm 30 is generally L-shaped in cross section, having a horizontalflange 48 and a vertical flange 50, each arm 30 is attached at itscenter to a vertical frame member 26 and extends in opposite directionsto opposite ends 52 for mounting of a yarn package supporting bracket ofthe present invention 20 at each end. Adjacent the end of eachhorizontal flange 48 an upstanding post 54 is secured by a bolt 55 forswivel attachment of a yarn package supporting bracket 20, for whichpurpose the bracket 20 is formed with an attaching portion 56 having avertically extending bore 58 engageable on the post 54 for swivelingattachment of the bracket on the creel arm 20.

Attached to the attaching portion 56 at a spacing from the post 54 thebracket 20 has an upstanding anular base plate 60 having on the side 62thereof opposite the post 54 a package receiving portion 64. Thispackage receiving portion 64 has a cylindrical extent 66 for tightfitting of the core 68 of a yarn package 24 thereon, and is curvedoutwardly therefrom a dome shape 70 to facilitate insertion of the yarnpackage core 68 onto the circular extent 66 of the package receivingportion 64.

The dome 70 is hollow and has a hole 72 formed therethrough forattaching an adaptor 74 of any convention type for holding a yarnpackage 24 firmly in position on the yarn support bracket 20. In theembodiment illustrated, the adaptor 74 is bolted to the packagereceiving portion 64 by a bolt 76.

Extending horizontally from the base plate 60 and the attaching portion56 is a bar 78 having its outer end a horizontally extending cylindricalportion 100 having a cylindrical magnet 102 seated therein and fixed bya set screw 104. The magnet 102 has a vertical outer face 106 forabutting the vertical surface 106 of the vertical flange 50 of the arm30.

The arm 30 is made of magnetically attractable material, such as steelor other material containing iron, so that it will have a magneticallyattractable portion 110. The magnetically attractable portion 110 of thearm 30 and the face 106 of the magnet 102 have relatively flatupstanding surfaces disposed for substantially flat contact between,with the magnetic attraction thereby fixing the position of the bracket20 on the arm 30.

The bar 78 on which the magnet 102 is mounted serves as a positioningportion. For this purpose it extends from the package receiving portion64 at an angle to precisely position and releasably fix a yarn package24 mounted on the bracket 20 at the proper angle in the yarn feedingposition.

The magnet 102 is at sufficient power to fix the bracket 20 in positionwithout movement under the weight of a yarn package 24 mounted on thebracket 20. Different strength of magnets are used, depending on theweight of the yarn package. As a non-limiting example, a 60 poundneodymium magnet may be used with a 50 pound yarn package. It will takesignificant force to separate the magnet 102 from the magneticallyattractable portion 110 of the arm 30. To be able to apply sufficientforce manually to break the magnetic attachment, a handle 112 is securedto the base plate 60 of the bracket 20 and extends outwardly oppositethe extension of the magnet holding bar 78. The handle 112 extendshorizontally and is curved to provide a stop against the back of thevertical flange 50 of the arm 30 for positioning the bracket 20 in thepackage loading position as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6.

In use, a bracket 20 is swiveled to an outwardly extending yarn packageloading position, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and at the right in FIG. 4,at the right in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. With an adaptor 74 mounted on thebracket 20, a full yarn package 24 is mounted over the adaptor 74 andonto the dome 70 and onto the cylindrical extent 66 of the packagereceiving portion 64, and against the vertically facing annular faceplate 60. With a yarn package 24, thusly mounted on the bracket 20, thebracket is swiveled into the creel about the post 54 until the face 106of the magnet 102 is flushed with the face 108 of the vertical flange 50of the arm 30. The magnetic attraction then fixes the bracket 20 andsupported yarn package 24 in the proper yarn feeding position.

The adjacent yarn packages 24 on the adjacent ends of adjacent brackets20 are paired for yarn feeding with the leading end of the yarn on afull package tied to the trailing end of a yarn on the paired package sothat when the first of the paired package is depleted of yarn the yarnwill begin feeding from the adjacent paired full package.

When a package 24 has been completely depleted, its bracket 20 can bemanually swiveled to the outwardly extending yarn package loadingposition, at which the empty yarn package core 68 can be removed and afull package 24 mounted on the bracket 20 for swiveling into the yarnfeeding position.

The right and left-hand brackets are identical, with one being turnedover with respect to the other. At the outer sides of the creel the armhas only one side, extending inwardly of the creel and supporting onlyone bracket.

Various modifications of the preferred embodiment can be made within thescope of the present invention, for example, the magnet can be mountedon the creel arm and the positioning portion can be magneticallyattractable to engage and be magnetically fixed by the magnet on thecreel arm. Also, a sophisticated arrangement of electrically controlledmagnetizing and demagnetizing could be utilized and various swivelarrangements, including mechanical control movement can be utilizedwithin the intent of the present invention.

In view of the aforesaid written description of the present invention,it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art thatthe present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application.Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other thanthose herein described, as well as many variations, modifications, andequivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggestedby the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, withoutdeparting from the substance or scope of the present invention.Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein indetail in relation to preferred embodiments, it is to be understood thatthis disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the presentinvention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full andenabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is notintended nor is to be construed to limit the present invention orotherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations,variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the presentinvention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and theequivalents thereof.

1. A yarn package supporting bracket for use on a creel, comprising anattaching portion, attaching said bracket to the creel for movement ofsaid bracket between a yarn feeding position and a package loadingposition, one of said creel and said bracket having a magneticallyattractable portion and the other having a magnet thereon engageablewith said magnetically attractable portion to releaseably fix thebracket and a yarn package supported thereon in a yarn feedingpositions.
 2. A yarn package supporting bracket according to claim 1wherein the creel has an upstanding bracket attaching post,characterized further in that said attaching portion has a boreengageable on the post for swiveling attachment of said bracket on saidcreel between said positions.
 3. A yarn package supporting bracketaccording to claim 1 characterized further in that said magneticallyattractable portion and said magnet have relatively flat surfacesdisposed for substantially flush contact therebetween when said bracketis in said yarn feeding position.
 4. A yarn package supporting bracketaccording to claim 1 and characterized further by a handle portionengageable to move said bracket between said positions.
 5. A yarnpackage supporting bracket swivelably attachable to a creel on anupstanding post of a generally horizontally extending arm of the creelfor positioning a yarn package alternatively in a yarn feeding positionand a package loading position, the creel arm having a magneticallyattractable portion, said bracket comprising an attaching portion havinga bore engageable on the post for swiveling attachment of said bracketon said creel arm for movement of said bracket between said positions, apackage receiving portion on which a yarn package can be removably.mounted, a positioning portion engageble with the creel arm forpositioning the bracket in the yarn feeding position, and a magnetattached to said positioning portion for magnetic attraction to themagnetically attractable creel portion to releasably fix the bracket andmounted yarn package in the yarn feeding position.
 6. A yarn packagesupporting bracket according to claim 5 wherein the magneticallyattractable portion of the creel arm and said magnet have relativelyflat upstanding surfaces disposed for substantially flat contacttherebetween when said bracket is in said yarn feeding position.
 7. Ayarn package supporting bracket according to claim 5 and characterizedfurther by a handle portion engageable to move said bracket between saidpositions.